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Maintaining an Open, Consumer-Driven, and Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Telecommunications

As never before in human history, we take for granted the ability to communicate across borders, oceans, and continents. Mobile technology and Internet connectivity are woven into the daily life of most Americans, and have created new avenues for connection, interaction, sharing, and understanding. Meanwhile, the pace of evolution and innovation in mobile and Internet technology ensures an ever-changing, ever-expanding communications landscape.

That landscape extends across the globe, and while not all corners of the world have come to enjoy the full benefits of the Internet age yet, the global expansion of those benefits is gaining speed. The number of Internet users in Africa, for example, is growing by more than 30 percent per year, and mobile broadband services in developing countries grew by nearly 80 percent in 2011 alone.

Consider for just a moment the distance we have traveled since the early days of international communications. In 1865, the United States was a signatory to the very first International Telegraph Convention. This convention established a cooperative approach to the development and expansion of new communication tools. As the telegraph gave way to telephone and radio communication, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was born to coordinate international standards of electronic communication, including management of the radio spectrum. This means that ITU plays a central role in minimizing conflict on the international airwaves, and that, in turn, means that communicating with friends and family around the world is increasingly routine.

Of course, a great deal has changed since world leaders first met to discuss the potential impact of the telegraph. When members of the ITU meet this December at the World Conference on International Telecommunications, there will be discussion of how best to update and improve the International Telecommunications Regulations.

As the world leader in telecommunications technologies, the United States goes to the conference committed to a goal of maintaining an open, consumer-driven and multi-stakeholder approach to telecommunications, which holds the best promise of maximizing social and economic benefits to consumers, citizens, and societies. Click here to learn more about the World Conference on International Telecommunications.

Editor's Note: The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 3-14, 2012. Read Ambassador Kramer's preview of the conference here.

Comments

Comments

Gary W.

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United Kingdom

November 30, 2012

Gary W. in the United Kingdom writes:

I still marvel at how far we have come in technology, for me the greatest measurement is looking at how far the mobile phone has come. Even in the 90's we were walking around with phones that wouldn't fit in our pocket, and look at them now. We take them for granted to manage our daily lives but boy have they come on in leaps and bounds.

There's a rather amusing article on the 'new mobile phone' from 2001 which makes me chuckle.

donaldm

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Virginia, USA

November 30, 2012

Donald M. in Virginia writes:

Fairwell to Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton -

I think when we look at the past 4 years the biggest success from the State Department and the President was serving Justice on Osama bin laden. The Special Force Unit Seals and the FBI who maintained a constant vigilance working with the cia. Once the intelligence actually worked.

More countries today have Democratic Leadership and even with Syria still have a chance for freedom to vote and live without oppression from its leaders as dictators.

The country of Libya has become a black-eye to the current administration. We all know that two navy seals cannot protect an embassy or consulant offices overseas. There should of been more secuirty posted, (a marine unit)and when an embassy or consulant office requests secuirty they should get it to protect our Americans abroad. If the State Department does not have the funds to support the Americans in these hostile locations, they should have never been placed there.

Justice on Osama bin laden high marks the loss of four americans low marks.

What our United States Senators should all agree is how Muammar al-Gaddafi - date and place of death October 20, 2011 Â· Sirte by its own people. When I look back at the two french airliners and the Pam Am flight that killed Americans and Scottish people on the ground, Justice was served on Mr. Gaddafi. How he spend most of his life dictacting and destroying human lives. One of his own comments made how he would use computer virus to attack the west and cause problems.

So in closing I say, "Not bad for a Secretary of State Honorable Hillary Clinton" We got Osama bin laden, we got Qaddafi in the 4 years and it put the Bin laden's terror group on notice. None of the previous Administrations can brag about this accomplishment.

Fairwell and smooth sailing, Fair winds and following seas for the Secretary of State when departing the office. In the end lessons have been learned about Libya and intelligence backed up with a secuirty force would of been better. God Bless....Peace Out and Good Luck if a plan to run for President in 2016!